Before styles such as Raku, Hagi, Karatsu, etc came into fashion for use in the tearoom in early Edo, it was commonplace in cultured society to use tea-ware imported from China. One of the most common implements that first made its way to Japanese shores was the tenmoku style tea bowl that has been adopted and carried on through countless generations of Japanese artisans. Here we have an excellent example of this style of tea bowl—in perfect condition and featuring a custom fit silk pouch...

Shadows of flame exhume the granular qualities of the clay on this superb Yakishime Tea Bowl by Mihara Ken enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled simply Wan . Exquisite, on one side the clay is ash gray, the opposite lively earth tones, and between is an abrupt scorched-land of shadow and color, like that violent moment between awake and sleep...

For Celadon aficionado Kato Tsubusa is like the jewel in the crown, a centerpiece so unusual and outstanding, and this deep Tea Bowl is a particularly rare gem, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sometsuke Mentori Chawan. The sides have been slabbed away, the angular form then dipped in thick transparent green and decorated with abstract underglaze blue. Such an unusual combination of affects it is sure to be a star in any collection of contemporary pottery...

Strikingly bold patterns revealed through curtains of emerald green play across the surface of this dramatic work by Ikeda Shogo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Oribe Chawan . Fuji, Birds, Clouds, Flowers and Pine Trees, a smorgasbord of Japanese iconography painted and carved into the gritty clay...

Ash dusts the terracotta surface studded with shiseki inclusions like rhinestones on a cowboy shirt on this Chawan by Kishimoto Kennin enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iga Chawan On top, and named Ichigo Ichie (one time, one meeting). On one side, skewed at a jaunty angle, one great eye of color, like a meditation stone in a temple garden lying among the red moss. This exemplifies the mastery and clarity of work by this potter...

Rare aubergine colors underlies the foggy surface of this beautiful deep bowl by Murakoshi Takuma enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Take-hai-yu chawan (bamboo ash glaze chawan). From his most recent firing, he has only a small amount of this Bamboo ash, and when it is gone, that is all. Slightly out of round, it is 12 to 13.5 cm diameter, 9 cm tall.
Murakoshi Takuma is one of those enigmas who simply lives to work with clay...

A Mizusashi Water Jar for use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony by Otani Shiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box. The artist has chosen to rely solely on the flavor of the clay, truly barren earth colored only with shadow and light resulting from the flame and kiln position. This beautifully showcases the nature of the distinct Shiseki filled Shigaraki clay. Top an austere black lacquered wooden lid like a pool of dark shadow...

While Kitaoji Rosanjin can be arguably called the most eccentric figure in Japanese art world in 20 century, Ando Minoru (1927-2015), 安藤實 is another name that comes to a mind...

A delicate sake cup (hai) by Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Outside is covered in festive red while inside the character Kotobuki (Fortune) is housed in a double ring in blue. Signed in the foot ring, it is 5 cm (2 inches) diameter and in perfect condition. For more on this artist see the recent edition of Arts of Asia Magazine (Spring 2021), A Seeing Eye: Modern Ceramics in Japan During the First Half of the 20th Century by John Wright...

Mountains rise majestically over meandering inlets on this vase by Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yama Sometsuke Kabin (Vase with Mountain Design in Blue). It is 19 cm (7-3/4 inches) tall, 16.5 cm (6-1/2 inches) diameter and in perfect condition. It comes with the original custom made cloth pouch and shiori...

A quintessential example of this artists most sought-after style, a ‘Scattered Blossoms’ vessel by Kondo Yutaka enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Funka Bin (Scattered Flowers Bottle). The pattern of petals is impressed deeply into the surface, and filled with white slip, contrasting starkly against the textured black background. It is 23 cm (9 inches) tall, 17 cm (7 inches) diameter and in excellent condition...

This piece was grilled with burning red pine fire woods for 10days in "Anagama" kiln. Covered ashes make fantastic pattern. Size 11.8cm(D: BODY) 10.8cm(H)

Mint Oni-Hagi masterpiece chawan by star potter Seigan Yamane. This extraordinary tea bowl is covered by wonderful different shades of white glaze and a few shades of purple on brown pottery. In my opinion it is the one of the most aesthetic chawans that he made. The seal of the artist is stamped on the bottom.

Seigan Yamane was born in 1952, and started making Hagi ware in 1987...

Here is some more magnificent works that we got recently from the challenging female artist Takahashi Nami...

A crusty black clay vase by Sakata Jinnai enclosed in the original signed wood box. Sculpted out into a crescent, it roughly forms a 24 cm (9-1/2 inch) diameter circle. Excellent condition.
Sakata Jinnai was born in Tokyo in 1943, and began as an apprentice under the legendary Kamoda Shoji in 1964, establishing his first kiln in 1966. His work was selected for display at the Nihon Dento Kogei Shinsaku Ten (National Traditional New Crafts Exhibition) in 1969, and the following year the Ni...

Studio Pottery Kyo ware Red Glaze Tokkuri (Sake Bottle) by Yoshinori Izumi (b. 1947).

- Born in Kyoto 1947;
- 1970 Graduated from Osaka University of the Arts, Craft Design, Ceramics Department;
- 1971 Graduated from Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute;
　　- Opened Daikakuji Pottery in front of Sagadaikakuji Gate, Ukyo-ku;
- 1994 Visited the ruins of an ancient kiln of Celadon and Tenmoku in China;
- 2013 Moved the pottery in Keihoku, Ukyo-ku.

A Blue Mist series box by Kondo Takahiro enclosed in the original signed wooden box with two shifuku and toreki. A precursor to his monolith forms, this is an excellent example of this important contemporary artist. It is 18 x 12 x 14.5 cm (7 x 5 x 6 inches) and in perfect condition.
Kondo Takahiro (b. 1958) was born the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo. However, he graduated Hosei University not with a degree in sculpture or crafts, but in Literature. From there he stud...

A fantastic vase decorated with an assortment of colors in drips, dots and draperies by Kawabata Kentaro enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Loco. The multiple aspects of this piece are difficult to surmise in few words. The texture varies from smooth glass to orange-peel. The colors run the gamut. A wonderful work to represent this artists eclectic style.
Size, D 25.8 cm H 31.6 cm
Condition, Excellent
Kawabata Kentaro was born in Saitama in 1976...